I had been thinking about the past lately—more than I normally did.
I reflected on my actions, imagining how things might have turned out.
Now.
Let's not let them repeat.
-SKRAAAA—
Before the demonbeast could come close, it was cut down cleanly. Not by me, obviously. I'm weak as hell now. All that demonbeast slaying was for nothing.
Hunter Theron was escorting me. I told the guild about the unusual demonbeast at Mara's place, so they sent him to investigate. Though I had no proof, the church still vouched for me. Angela must have helped with this.
To the Guild, this was a serious matter. I had suggested the possibility of a human-turned demonbeast, and that implication alone was enough.
Corruption.
Mara's house was close to the Red Zone, so it wasn't impossible. Prolonged exposure to miasma slowly erodes a person's mind, and when combined with overwhelming negative emotions...
...they become a demonbeast.
One with an "identity."
Far more dangerous than any formless demonbeast.
Such a demonbeast emits even more miasma, accelerating the spread of miasma and putting the entire city at risk.
Passing through the fog, I noticed it was thinner than I remembered.
So here we were, at Mara's house.
Theron knocked on the door calmly.
The door slowly opened.
"H-hello, who are you?"
Mara greeted us. Her lifeless eyes were just as I remembered. For a moment, her bloodied image flashed across my vision, then faded as I shook it off.
Theron moved forward.
"I'm Theron, a hunter from the Pathfinder Guild. I'm here to conduct a demonbeast inspection."
"D-demonbeast!? W-why?"
"I've received information that a demonbeast may be residing here. Please make way and cooperate with the search."
"...B-but—"
Theron brushed past Mara. She lowered her gaze, fingers fidgeting. It was clear why.
He scanned the house, looking for traces of demonbeast. Soon enough, he stood in front of her mother's room. He tried to open it.
It was locked.
-BAM!
Theron kicked the door down with ease. What awaited inside was a grotesque scene.
Blood and flesh sprayed across the entire room. Dismembered body parts scattered around. In the room's darkest corner, her mother was curled in on herself, mumbling something incomprehensible.
She still looked like a human at the very least, save for her deranged behavior, that is.
"...What is happening?"
I asked Theron nervously.
"Stay back."
He responded flatly.
In one smooth motion, his sword was drawn. Then the air itself seemed to shift.
"!"
The blade darkened beneath a restrained crimson sheen, not radiant but dense, as if the edge itself had been sharpened with his intent. A quiet weight settled around it, making the air feel heavier.
The mumbling stopped abruptly. Slowly, the woman turned her head, twisting to an impossible degree.
I thought she was intimidated by his blade.
But she stared past Theron—straight at Mara.
"...Mara"
"...Mom."
It was hard to read Mara's expression. Was it fear—or something else?
But her mother's fury was unmistakable. Her face contorted wildly. Veins bulged along her skin. Her arms and legs lengthened, darkening to black.
"...Is that?"
"Corruption."
-MaAraa!!
-Shhk!
A clean cut. The demonbeast lunged forward. The crimson blade split it in two. All of this happened in a flash.
Aura. I had seen it before. Heard of it before. The undead had used it. Eirlys had told me about it. And now, witnessing how easily he took down the demonbeast, I realize...
This was what 'strong' truly meant.
Theron sheathed his sword and walked outside. I stood here alone with Mara.
"..."
"..."
The feeling was complicated.
"...Are you alright?"
"..."
What used to be her mother lay on the floor. Cut in half.
"...Now that things have come to this, what about coming to the Church? They will treat you well there."
"..."
I was saying what I wanted to say. I had no idea what she wanted.
So we stood there for a while.
Until Mara finally said something.
"Why?"
Such a simple question, yet filled with intent and implications. Yeah, she knew I was responsible for this.
"...Because I want to save you."
Mara stared at me. Her shyness was nowhere to be found.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"...Will you take care of me, then?"
"...If that's what you want, then sure."
I could hear the uncertainty in her voice, and mine, too.
"I will give you proper care. That much I'll make sure."
I reached out my hand to her. She took it hesitantly. Her once-lifeless eyes looked at me in disbelief. A hopeful look.
Responsibility, I'm still unfamiliar with it. But I hoped I could at least help her find the home she needed.
That afternoon, I brought her to the Order's orphanage. There were a lot of kids, and they seemed quite excited to see her. Mara was rather quiet, however.
Normally, they said, the procedures would be a bit complicated, but things went rather smoothly. This was all thanks to Angela. Man, knowing someone with lots of connections like her made all the difference.
I was really hopeful... I really do. But there was still one more thing I needed to do.
There was a certain mage I wanted to meet again.
***
"Why should I?"
"Huh?"
Eirlys rejected my offer immediately.
"Why should I form a party with a nobody like you? And stop acting like we're close. It is honestly creepy."
"Ah, right. Sorry about that."
Yeah… maybe I was being creepy. Waiting around for a specific commission, asking to form a party the moment we met, and talking like I already knew her — that's pretty weird.
"Please reconsider it. Actually, I'm a Chosen One, too. I'll definitely be of help."
"So? I couldn't care less. Find somebody else to help you."
Why? What was it that initially drew her interest in me? What should I do now?
...Why am I so desperate to work with her?
Eirlys stood and began walking away.
"Hm, find someone else to tag along with your little hero game—"
"Do you know about the Laws of Motion?"
"..?"
Eirlys looked quite puzzled—the most I had ever seen her.
"The first law states that an object at rest will remain so unless acted upon by an external force, or so I was told."
"..."
"This might sound unreasonable, even weird, but I need you. I don't think I can hunt demonbeast without you..."
"..."
"...So please, give me one chance to prove myself."
It was too direct, I know. But that was what I really believed. If it wasn't for her, I would have given up long ago. Only because of her could I get this far.
I still owed her a lot, too.
"..."
"..."
Without turning around, she spoke.
"...Cain, right?"
"Yes?"
"One week. That's how much time I'm willing to give you. If you prove to be a burden, you're out."
Finally, Eirlys looked at me. Her ever-expressionless face felt reassuring.
She closed the distance, looking straight at me.
"No complaints later, you got it?"
"Sure..."
Oh well, whatever, at least I got her to work with me. Actually, it would be more correct to say work for her.
And this time, definitely...
I'll make everything right.